The estimation of mercury emission from coal combustion in China.

Abstract

In this paper,the mercury emission of coal combustion and mercury content of coal were studied in China. The average mercury content of coal is 0.22mg/kg.By founding monitor program,the mercury emission factors of coal-fired boiler were measured,which were from 64.0% to 78.2%. Basing on other data,the total amount of mercury emission from coal combustion was 302.9 tons in 1995, including 213.8 tons in atmosphere and 89.07 tons in ash and cinder. From 1978 to 1995 mercury emission had been increasing at average 4.8% per year and 2493.8 tons mercury had been emitted into atmosphere during the process of coal combustion;and the mercury emission intensity is high in Beijing,Shanghai and Tianjin.Mercury emission from coal combustion is a important environmental problem in China.